Can Drinking Coffee Increase Metabolism?

Can Drinking Coffee Increase Metabolism?

As the second most valuable commodity in the world after oil, it's no surprise here that there’s some brew-ha-ha surrounding coffee (even though it probably is amazing for you) Caffeine-Not just a stimulant. Glade, M.J. The Nutrition Doctor, Skokie, Illinois, USA. Nutrition, 2010 Oct;26(10):932-8.. Carrying nicknames like jet fuel, black gold, and battery acid, coffee has been causing buzz in minds and bodies for centuries Notes on the history of caffeine use. Fredholm, B.B. Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology, 2011;(200):1-9.. But just what does it have to do with metabolism?

A Boost from the Brew — The Answer/Debate

So just how does it work? As caffeine raises blood pressure and puts the central nervous system on high alert, the body burns calories to meet its energy needs, boosting metabolism. As caffeine enters the body, it’s absorbed into the bloodstream very quickly through the stomach and small intestine, allowing drinkers to feel the effects within 15 minutes of the first sip, and up to five hoursActions of caffeine in the brain with special reference to factors that contribute to its widespread use Fredholm, B.B., Bättig, K., Holmén, J., et al. Section of Molecular Neuropharmacology, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. Pharmacological Reviews, 1999 Mar;51(1):83-133.. But just as caffeine’s effects on alertness fades, so do those on metabolism, peaking at around three hours after consumption. Coffee does have a dark side, though— and not just in terms of roast. Drinking too much (more than three 8-ounce cups per day) can cause symptoms like insomnia, nervousness, irritability, upset stomach upset, and muscle tremors. How do you take yours? An average Joe just doesn’t cut it anymore, so tell us what it takes to make a healthy, delicious cup of brew.

The Takeaway

Yes, coffee can increase metabolism— just stick to plain black to reap the largest increase with fewer calories and sugar!